Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

At long last, winter has blown its last seriously cold storm winds over the city of Louisville, it's not a moment too soon. It's also not time to plant your tomatoes, either, plus Derby Day is very early this year. (Many Louisvillians can recount tales of snow falling on Derby Day, including me.) Just cross your fingers, knock on the nearest spirit-bearing tree, chant a mantra or say a prayer – whatever works; we want a warm spring and a warm and dry Derby (two) Week(s), almost all which happen in April. Pass the bourbon.

The project to load earlier editions of Louisville Music News to the web continues: the April 1999 back to November 1998 were uploaded this month:

April 1999 – Kathleen Hoye was the featured artist.

March 1999 – Rick Harper was the featured artist.

February 1999 – Lexington's Supafuzz got the cover.

January 1999 – Dewey and the Navigators were on the cover.

December 1998 – Crown Electric was featured.

November 1998 – Superface got the cover.

All the cover photos were by Ralph H. Sidway. Interestingly, only Kathleen Hoye is still active in town.

Record release announcements from Louisville artists continued through the month. Among the more notable were:

Rachel Grimes has announced that her new album, The Clearing, featuring Locsil, will be released on May 26 via Temporary Residence Ltd. Among the guests on the record are Canadian ambient guru Loscil, former Rachel's member Christian Frederickson, Shipping News percussionist Kyle Crabtree and more.

My Morning Jacket has announced their first release on Capitol Records, The Waterfall due out May 4. For a more detailed story, over over to Rolling Stone, as well as a video of "Big Decisions" from the record.

CODAS

Johnson, Robert E. "Rob," Jr., 57, died on February 28, 2015. He was a guitarist and teacher who played with many bands in the Louisville area over his lifetime, including From Paris, Chris Leigh and The Broken Hearts Band, Jake & Elwood and the Boys and the Hank Rose Project among many others.

Gardner, Jimmy, 64, died in Louisville on March 19, 2015. He was a longtime Louisville musician who performed with many bands, including the Mighty Water Kings, The Revelators, Hellfish, Midnight Special, Blonde Johnson, Mr. Jimmy, Lazy Eleven and many others. He was inducted into Stevie Ray's Hall of Fame in 2009.

Rigot, Steve "Chili" died on March 20, 2015 in Louisville. He was the leader of the early punk band The Endtables and influenced many musicians who came after him.